East Providence has approved a zoning change that could open the door to more townhouse development and entry-level homeownership in the city.

The City Council voted Tuesday, August 11, to amend the city's zoning ordinance to formally allow attached single-family homes, including townhouses, in areas that already permit multifamily housing. The change brings East Providence into compliance with Rhode Island's recently enacted housing laws.

Under the new rules, developers can build townhouses side by side on individual lots, allowing each unit to be separately owned rather than requiring the entire development to operate as a traditional apartment building or condominium. The change could create another pathway for buyers looking for a more attainable alternative to a detached single-family home.

The zoning update does not open traditional single-family neighborhoods to townhouse construction. Instead, the new option applies in areas where multifamily housing is already permitted, allowing developers to use those properties for individually owned attached homes.

The move comes as East Providence continues looking for ways to expand its housing supply. About 50% of the city's renters are considered housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to data cited during the city's zoning discussions.

The city has already taken other steps to expand housing options. In March, East Providence adopted an inclusionary zoning requirement for larger residential developments, requiring projects with more than 10 units to set aside at least 15% of their homes as affordable housing.

For developers, the new townhouse rules could make additional properties viable for residential construction while giving buyers another ownership option in a market where traditional starter homes remain difficult to find.

However, the zoning change does not guarantee that new townhouses will immediately be built. Developers will still need suitable land, financing, and market demand before projects move forward.

The Bottom Line

East Providence's new zoning rules remove a regulatory barrier to townhouse development and could expand the city's supply of individually owned homes. With housing affordability remaining a major concern, the change gives developers another way to create entry-level ownership opportunities without broadly increasing density in traditional single-family neighborhoods.